City of Thorns (The Demon Queen Trials #1)(24)
What kind of outfit did one wear for an introduction to a regicidal, patricidal demon king?
I frowned at my new underwear, which looked barely large enough to cover my nipples and ass. But I was, after all, a succubus now. Might as well get used to it. And with a little jolt of satisfaction, I realized I was actually quite comfortable standing stark naked in this glass-walled room.
Among the dresses, there were some more casual clothes, too. Black leather leggings, sleek pantsuits, little skirts and tops. But Orion had suggested that for my grand entrance back into the city today, I was supposed to dazzle people. Apparently, all eyes would be on me.
I plucked a camisole from the bed, one with sheer black lace and embroidered snakes. Its neckline plunged below the breasts at the center. Dark, sexy, demonic. I slid it on, and just as I’d expected, it barely covered my nipples.
I picked up the tiny matching panties and slipped into them.
Then I scanned the dresses. Lots of black, gray, gold. All of them were revealing in some way—tight bodices, slits all the way up to the hips, plunging backlines, short hemlines. First, I picked up a pale silver gown in a Grecian style, with a high waistline and delicate crisscrossing ropes around it. But the neckline went right down to the waist, and I wasn’t sure I was ready for that.
Instead, I chose a short, silky red dress with a fitted top and long sleeves, and I wriggled it over my hips. It had a looser skirt, but the fact that the hem stopped just below my ass was definitely new to me. Then I slipped into a pair of thigh-high boots, which had small enough heels that I should be able to walk in them reasonably well.
When I turned to look at myself, I had to admit I looked hot as hell. With the boots on, I only had a small amount of skin showing—the tops of my thighs and my décolletage. And yet, somehow, this was a much sexier look than I was used to. My hair had dried, and it hung in waves over my shoulders, orange on red. It wasn’t a bad look, I thought.
Fully dressed, I pulled open the door to the living room. Orion was still sitting on the sofa, leaning back with his arms unfolded over the sofa. And he was still as death, eyes burning like stars as he took me in.
Inhaling, I crossed closer to him. He slowly stood, his gaze boring into me. Dark magic whipped the air around him, and a low growl rumbled from his throat and skimmed over my body. I wondered if he was thinking of when I’d straddled him yesterday.
Then a wicked smile ghosted over his lips. “Good. You look like a succubus. Let’s just see you move like Mortana one last time. I know you have confidence in your body in some ways. You can land a punch—I saw you take on those mortal fucks.” His eyes had an otherworldly silver sheen. “That man who cornered you outside the brewery—was his name Jack Corwin?”
I’d forgotten how much he knew about me, as I’d spilled nearly all my secrets. “That was him.”
“After everything he did to you, why would you tell me to stop hurting him? When I was twisting his mind with pain?”
He was doing that dominating demon stare that made me want to submissively drop my gaze. But I held his stare because Mortana would hold it. “I’m a normal person who doesn’t want to watch someone’s brain melt on the street. It’s that thing called empathy. Even when you hate someone, you don’t enjoy seeing them tortured.”
“Empathy?” His eyes looked icy, cruel. “Sounds tedious. I’m glad I was never cursed with it.”
“Exactly how many people have you killed in your life?”
He moved around to my side. “I’d love to tell you about each one just to see the horror cross your pretty face, but we have only a few hours left to work on your hunched posture.”
I frowned. “Did you say hunched?”
“We’ll try one last thing. I’m going to trace my finger up your spine, and as I do, I want you to straighten your back along with it. Lean into it, square your shoulders.”
Already, I could feel the power of his magic tingling over my skin. When he touched my lower back, I nearly gasped at the pleasurable sensation. Just the feel of his fingertip on my back, through my dress, was like a hot, electric vibration through my body.
“Close your eyes. Let your shoulders relax and fall back. Imagine a thread pulling the top of your head toward the ceiling.” With exquisite slowness, he stroked upward. My body responded to his touch, spine straightening, pulse speeding, and skin burning.
Holy moly, Rowan. Remember, this is just a job. And the bit about him being a demon. And also the bit about how he threatened to murder Shai.
As his finger brushed my nape, my neck lengthened. Then, with a touch light as a feather, his finger grazed back down again, and heat radiated from every point of contact. He let it rest between my shoulder blades. “Lift your chest. Raise your chin. You’re proud of your beauty. It’s part of your power.”
My breath sped up, and I felt him move behind me, his hands going to my hips. I fought the insane impulse to lean back into his powerful body.
“Move your hips forward a little,” he said quietly. “Open your eyes now.”
I opened my eyes, already feeling different with my new posture.
“Perfect.”
With graceful movements, he crossed in front of me. His beauty was deeply and unfortunately distracting. His gaze flicked to my mouth, and with a jolt of embarrassment, I realized I’d been licking my lips. A blush crept over my cheeks.